Sen. Bob Corker worked for months to negotiate release of U.S. citizen held in Venezuela

A Utah man, imprisoned in Venezuela for two years without trial, is making an emotional plea for help to be freed from a Caracas jail. Joshua Holt, in a clandestinely shot video, says that his life was threatened during a recent prison riot. (May 17)
AP

Sen. Bob Corker worked for months to secure the release on Saturday of a U.S. citizen who had been held in a Venezuelan prison for two years, his office confirmed.

Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, began negotiations earlier this year to bring Utah resident Josh Holt and his wife, Thamy, home to the United States, his office said in a statement.

The Tennessee Republican met in March with Venezuelan Governor Rafael Lacava in Washington and traveled to Caracas Friday to meet with newly reelected Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, his office confirmed.

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Feb. 8, 1994: Chattanooga developer Bob Corker, one of six Republican candidates for U.S. Senate against Democratic incumbent Jim Sasser, speaks at the Tennessee Municipal League meeting in Nashville. Frank Empson / The Tennessean

May 18, 1994: Republican Bob Corker of Chattanooga officially enters the race for the U.S. Senate seat of Democrat Jim Sasser as his wife, Elizabeth, looks on in Nashville. Rick Musacchio / The Tennessean

Sept. 29, 1995: State of Tennessee Finance Commissioner Bob Corker talks about state money that will be used to help pay for the stadium where the Houston Oilers will play if they move to Nashville, during a news conference. Corker said the $13 million gap in the state's tentative agreement would be closed before the complete deal is unveiled. Mark Humphrey / AP Photo

Dec. 3, 1999: Bob Corker, left, housing adviser to Metro Mayor Bill Purcell, is speaking at a news conference where Matt Powell was named his director of the new Division of Affordable Housing in the Office of the Mayor. Looking on is Mayor Purcell. Ricky Rogers / The Tennessean

April 19, 2006: Democrat Harold Ford, Jr., left, speaks with Bob Corker as Van Hilleary walks by before the 2006 U.S. Senate Candidate Forum held at The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville. Mandy Lunn / The Tennessean

July 10, 2006: Candidate for the U.S. Senate Bob Corker, center, listens to Jim Ogle, left, as he talks with Mary Nelle Blanton. Ogle was host of the event at his home in Pittman Center, Tenn. Wade Payne / AP Photo

Oct. 10, 2006: Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr., left, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, shares a laugh with Republican candidate Bob Corker before the start of a debate at University Center on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus. Mark Gilliland / AP Photo

Oct. 24, 2006: U.S. Senate candidate Bob Corker, center, talks to Rieta Selberg, left, and Carole Pruett at the Ridgeway Country before he spoke to the Rotary club in Collierville, Tenn. Matt Craig / The Commercial Appe

Nov. 7, 2006: Republican Bob Corker, candidate for Senate, watches early election returns with his family in their hotel room in Chattanooga. With Corker are his wife, Elizabeth, second from right, and their daughters, Emily, 17, left, and Julia, 19, right. Mark Humphrey / AP Photo

Dec. 12, 2008: Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Corker, a key Republican negotiator, said the Bush administration undercut his negotiating power with the UAW by making clear from the start that the industry would get an emergency life line if talks with Congress collapsed. Susan Walsh / AP Photo

Jan. 13, 2009: Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., sits in the Cadillac Converj concept as GM Vice President of Global Design Ed Welburn looks on at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Converj contains the same range-extended gas-electric hybrid powertrain as the Chevrolet Volt. Paul Sancya / AP Photo

Aug. 16, 2011: Sen. Bob Corker speaks at a meeting of the Smith County Chamber of Commerce in Carthage, Tenn. The Tennessee Republican said it could be three to four years before Congress passes national guidelines on sales tax collections by online retailers like Amazon.com. Erik Schelzig / AP Photo

March 15, 2014: Tennessee Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Terry Ethridge, left, and Sen. Bob Corker place a wreath at Andrew Jackson' s tomb during a ceremony at The Hermitage celebrating his 247th birthday. Shelley Mays / The Tennessean

May 12, 2014: Sens. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, listen to singer-songwriter Rivers Rutherford at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. The three senators announced how they will introduce legislation that will benefit Nashville songwriters through the fair market value for songs that are written and performed. Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean

May 30, 2015: Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, left, enters the Grand Ballroom area of the Music City Center with Sen. Bob Corker where he was the keynote speaker at this year's Statesmen's Dinner, the Tennessee Republican Party's largest gathering — and possibly largest fundraiser — of the year. Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

Feb. 22, 2016: U.S. Sen. Bob Corker gets emotional as he addresses the crowd while remarking on human trafficking issues during an event on the Belmont University campus. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Dec. 17, 2016: U.S. Senator Bob Corker, right, talks with Union University President Samuel "Dub" Oliver as the processional continues to enter the sanctuary for the Union University fall commencement services at West Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson, Tenn. C.B. Schmelter / The Jackson Sun

March 15, 2017: U.S. Sen. Bob Corker tells the crowd there will be a delay to the start of a rally for President Donald Trump at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville. George Walker IV / The Tennessean

Sept. 26, 2017: Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chats with reporters at the Capitol in Washington. Corker, a two-term senator, just announced that he will not run for re-election in 2018. J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Aug. 4, 2018: Sens. Lamar Alexander, center, and Bob Corker, right, are seen before a unity rally with U.S. Rep. Diane Black and Randy Boyd, behind left, at the Omni Hotel in Nashville. Wade Payne / For The Tennessean

Nov. 14, 2006: Sen. Mitch McConnell, right, greets Bob Corker in Washington. McConnell praised the retiring senator, saying, "He's a powerful voice for American interests and those of our allies and a forceful, influential thorn in the side of those who might wish us harm." Heather Wines / GNS

U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said Corker's "pivotal efforts" helped Holt get out of prison, where he had been held on weapons charges.

In his statement, Corker praised Hatch, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and aide Caleb McCarry, who had traveled with him to Venezuela on Friday.

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A Utah man newly freed from a Venezuelan jail has been seen boarding a private jet that's expected to take him to Washington. Joshua Holt was wearing a bright orange backpack and was surrounded by supporters. (May 26)
AP

"I would like to thank Caleb McCarry, an incredibly valued member of my staff, for his dogged determination," Corker said. "We would not have been successful without his involvement."

“We are grateful to all who participated in this miracle,” Holt’s family said in a statement.

Holt had gone to Venezuela in June 2016 to marry Thamy, whom he met online while looking for Spanish-speaking Mormons who could help him improve his Spanish. After arriving, he was arrested on weapons charges and accused of being a spy.

President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would greet the Holts at the White House.

Good news about the release of the American hostage from Venezuela. Should be landing in D.C. this evening and be in the White House, with his family, at about 7:00 P.M. The great people of Utah will be very happy!